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EasternMichigan College Football 06

Spring practices are in the books and fall camps will be here before you know it so that means getting an early jump on the 2006 NCAA football season. Knowing the teams now will save you time in August and Matt Fargo is here to help you get a grasp of what to expect this upcoming year. We go from worst to first in this 2006 College Football Preview.

#110 – Eastern Michigan Eagles 4-7 SU; 7-4 ATS

Fargo’s Take It was an up and down season for the Eagles last year as they started the season at 3-2 only to lose five straight games before closing the season with a win at Buffalo. The final three losses were by a combined 10 points and all three could have gone Eastern Michigan’s way but it simply could not close the deal and cost few bettors with their sports picks. Things should not get much worse if the offense comes together but it doesn’t look like things will get much better either. The lack of a quarterback and a running game are the biggest issues heading into the fall and those two areas need to be corrected in a hurry for the Eagles to have any chance of improving on their four wins. The defense was not great last season but it was decent enough to hold six teams to 24 or fewer points. The secondary is the biggest concern on that side of the ball as the rest of the unit should once again be effective. Eastern Michigan has one of the best place kickers in the country in Andrew Wellock but he had some struggles last season after being a 2004 Lou Groza finalist. He could very be an X-factor this year.

Returning Starters on Offense – 6 The loss of quarterback Matt Bohnet hurts the offense right out of the gate and Eastern Michigan is likely going to struggle early on in the season to find its rhythm. A running game can make up for breaking in a new quarterback but unfortunately for the Eagles, they have no running game to speak of. Their leading returning rusher is Tyler Jones who gained just 267 yards last season. The return of Pierre Walker, who missed last season with an injury, could help matters if he is back to full strength. The biggest weapon is receiver Eric Deslauriers who finished with 874 receiving yards last year but matching that total could be difficult if a formidable quarterback cannot be found.

Returning Starters on Defense – 7 Eastern Michigan finished 67th in the country in scoring defense last season which is pretty respectable coming out of the MAC. The strength was its passing defense which was 46th in the nation but unfortunately, that will be the weakness this season as three sophomores and three freshmen are part of the eight-player two-deep chart. A strong defensive line and deep linebackers will help make up for some of the backfield deficiencies but not all. It is up to the defense to keep the Eagles in games early in the season so the offense can find its identity but that will be a tough task to take on. Many other MAC teams will be breaking in new offenses so that will definitely be of assistance.

Schedule The first half of the season is a nightmare for the Eagles, so much so it is almost unfair. Five of their first six games are on the road including back-to-back Big Ten games at Michigan St. and Northwestern. The lone home game in that stretch is a conference game against Central Michigan. Because of the early traveling, four of the final six games are at home but three of those are against Toledo, Northern Illinois and Navy, all potential bowl teams. The only good that comes out of the whole schedule is that the Eagles’ four MAC road games are against teams that are all in rebuilding seasons, including Western Michigan and Bowling Green so a win on he road somewhere is not out of the question.

You can bet on… A third straight four-win season is likely out of the question for Eastern Michigan as too much experience has left the program. When the best player on the team is a receiver, it does not equate toward much success. There is potential here overall but being unproven, this team cannot be ranked very high. The Eagles were a solid money-maker last season, cashing in seven of their 11 games. However, without a quick strike offense, trying to close that back door will be difficult. The first game of the season is at Ball St., a team that is slowly improving so coming out of the opener with a win could do wonders for the young Eagles.

College Football Predictions 2006

Summer is about to end and the pigskin is about to fly so it’s time for our college football predictions 2006 edition. We are going to go through five BCS conferences and give you an honest take on who we think is going to win the league. You will then have a solid outlook on the teams who will be most likely to be crowned national champion. If you like to bet on futures as much as we do, then you’ll know that there is a lot of money to be made if you make some correct predictions as to which teams will win the conference titles. We have been successful in the past at this task, and we are hoping for more of the same this year.

When you take a look at the ACC you really only need to know about two teams, Florida State and Miami. These two have the best shot at winning the league and getting the automatic berth into the BCS. They play in the first week of the season and Miami coach Larry Coker has already said that some of his top players from a year ago will not play due to disciplinary reasons. We have to believe that this will give the edge to Florida State and we are predicting them to win the conference.
At the top of a lot of national polls are the Buckeyes from Ohio State, but we are going to go with an underdog in the Big 10. The team from Iowa, led by Kirk Ferentz is poised to make a big run this year after underacheiving a season ago. They will need to replace an NFL caliber linebacking corps, but the offense should be dangerous in deed. The fact that the Buckeyes have to travel to Iowa City this season also bodes well for the Hawkeyes claiming the Big 10 title.
With Oklahoma losing their starting quarterback due to NCAA violations, Texas is the new favorite to win the Big 12 conference. Everyone is picking these guys but we are going to go with another underdog in this spot. You can get the Cornhuskers from Nebraska at a steep discount at a lot of different sportsbooks and we suggest you take them. The team has the easiest schedule in the North, virtually ensuring us that they will be in the Big 12 title game. Are they as good as some of the teams in the South? No, but the value is there when you know there will only be one team to beat at the end of the season.
Let’s make the Pac 10 short and sweet, until somebody beats USC, we are riding them. California has been making strides, but they simply do not have enough pull recruiting wise yet to keep refilling the depth charts with blue chip style players like the Trojans do. This team will once again contend for a national title, even without a lot of talented players from a year ago.
The SEC is going to be an all out battle, and we like the Gators to come out on top. Everyone Urban Meyer has gone the second year has been the time to get things turned around, and we expect this year to be no different. Auburn and LSU also have good shots at winning it, but expectation are too high at South Carolina, Tennessee, and Alabama if you think these three teams can contend on a national level. Chris Leak goes out with a bang, taking the Gators back to the promise land.

Buffalo College Football 06

Spring practices are in the books and fall camps will be here before you know it so that means getting an early jump on the 2006 NCAA football season. Knowing the teams now will save you time in August and Matt Fargo is here to help you get a grasp of what to expect this upcoming year. We go from worst to first in this 2006 College Football Preview.

#117 – Buffalo Bulls 1-10 SU; 5-5-1 ATS

Fargo’s Take The Turner Gill era begins in Buffalo this season and it looks like it’s going to be a very rough beginning. The Bulls had only one victory in 2005 and there simply is not enough talent to turn this team around in a short time frame. Buffalo had one of the most anemic offenses in the nation last year, averaging only 10 ppg and 279.5 ypg, 118th and 114th in the country respectively. The start to the season was one of the worst ever as the Bulls managed three points in its first three games combined before “exploding” for 21 points against Western Michigan. The cupboard isn’t bare but it certainly isn’t stocked and if the Bulls want to improve on that one victory, more points on the scoreboard is priority one. Gill, unlike former coach Jim Hofher, is offensive minded and should be able to make improvements right away. Defensively, the Bulls were respectable, finishing 60th in total defense but good efforts went unnoticed due to the offensive inefficiencies. Expect more of the same in 2006 and not many money line free sports picks from us on Buffalo..

Returning Starters on Offense – 8 The offense returns a majority of the starters from 2005 but that isn’t something the Bulls faithful should be getting excited about. Buffalo is sure to be better on that side of the ball with Gill in the mix but he will certainly have his work cut out for him. The offense got into the redzone only 26 times last season and making matters even worse, it managed to score points in only 14 of those drives. Sophomore Drew Willy took over at quarterback last season after the first three games when the team averaged only one ppg so there is experience behind center. The running game will be decent but the offensive line is the concern as three long time starters are gone.

Returning Starters on Defense – 5 The unit performed well at times but it was a sitting duck a lot of the time. The horrendous offense and poor special teams put the defense is a hole most of the time, allowing a lot of points and a horrendous 90.9% redzone success rate. The Bulls will have a new look this season, going for the traditional 4-3 alignment which will certainly put the pressure on the defensive line that does not return one starter from last season. The linebackers and safeties will be the core of the group. An extremely misleading stat from last season is that Buffalo finished the season 10th in the country in passing defense but that was because it was always behind and teams simply didn’t have the need to throw.

Schedule A MAC schedule can be good or bad depending on the draw and Buffalo’s is not good. The Bulls face three of the four powerhouse teams, missing only Toledo, with two of those games coming on the road. Unlike most early season schedules, Buffalo starts out with three straight conference games so a lot will be known right away on how much offseason progress the Bulls have made. Non-conference games at Auburn, at Boston College and at Wisconsin promises a 0-3 record but they are spread out enough that they aren’t going to do much damage to the confidence as each is followed by a conference home game which are all winnable to a point.

You can bet on… Similar to its opening opponent Temple, game one of the Gill era is a huge one for Buffalo. A win at home would put the team in first place in the MAC for a couple weeks at least and would provide some great momentum heading out on the road. A loss could be detrimental since Temple doesn’t beat anyone and if the Bulls are a victim, it could be lights out early. Buffalo covered half of its games last season and went 3-2 against the number when getting more than three touchdowns including a 2-0 mark at home. We will certainly see some big numbers again this season and with an offense that has the ability to be better, the Bulls could get over the hump and become a profitable team.

100706

Is this the year for the Auburn Tigers football team? The SEC is tough and it’s tough to imagine anyone escaping with an undefeated record and a shot to play in the BCS championship game. To get their the Tigers would have to beat LSU, Florida, Georgia, and then win the SEC Championship game.

These guys struggled last week on national television against the old ball coach and his Gamecocks, but it wasn’t because of Kenny Irons or Brandon Cox. Irons ran for 117 yards and 2 touchdowns while Cox took care of the ball and went 13 of 19 through the air. The defense however was shaky against the offensive genius of Spurrier. The Tigers had been a top 20 defense but allowed WR Kenny McKinley to post 8 catches and 110 yards with a touchdown.

Now they get a chance to redeem themselves with a home game against Arkansas. Look for Irons to really break out as the Hogs defense ranks near the bottom of college football against the ground game. Arkansas likes to run the ball on offense, but Auburn has shown that the only way to move it against them is through the air.

You also have to factor in how Auburn is 11-4 ATS in their last 15 and 7-2 ATS their last nine at home. In the SEC they have gone 23-9 ATS their last 32 and 5-1 ATS as a double digit favorite. Arkansas is 0-for-the pay window this season and we don’t see them picking up money for their backers again this weekend.

Take the Auburn Tigers football team minus the points to the bank on Saturday.

100606

It’s Louisville and Middle Tennessee State on Friday night football. If you are planning on putting anything on this game then you should read this article by Jimmy Boyd. His college football picks are on fire this year and he wants to help you win as much money as possible.
Despite the losses of quarterback Brian Brohm and running back Michael Bush, Louisville has still managed a 4-0 start, but it’s apparent that the offense has taken a major hit. Louisville remains the top offensive team in the country because of early season pushovers, but in its last game against K-State, which was the first game without both Bush and Brohm, the offense was not a smooth sailing ship. I’m not going to try to make you believe that Middle Tennessee State has a chance in this one, but the Blue Raiders have been impressive at times this season. They played Maryland tough in a 24-10 loss on the road in week two and they shutout North Texas 35-0 last week.

Louisville’s defense has helped carry the Cardinals in the absence of its two preseason Heisman trophy candidates. The Cardinals’ defense has allowed just 13 points in their last three games and it is very capable of pitching a shutout in this one. However, there are two big factors to consider. The game will be played in front of the Blue Raiders home crowd and Louisville has a huge target on its back. Those are two huge motivational factors that should have the Blue Raiders laying it all out on the line in a nothing-to-lose situation.

Another thing to consider is how Middle Tennessee State will decide to play in this one? If they play to win and take lots of chances on offense with trick plays and plays down the field, we could see several costly turnovers out of the Raiders which could lead to easy scoring opportunities for the Cards. If they play not to lose with conservative play calling, they should be able to keep the clock rolling and keep the score somewhat close in the first half. One area where trick plays could be very effective in Friday night’s game is in special teams situations. Trick plays are very difficult to prepare for. A well planned fake punt could give the Blue Raiders a big play and a huge momentum booster in this one and I believe that Middles Tennessee State will have at least one good trick up its sleeve.

The best value in Friday night’s matchup lies in playing the total and Jimmy Boyd has done his homework. Get your weekend of college football winnings started off on a winning note by picking up an easy Friday night college football winner with Jimmy Boyd.

2006 Slaton Heisman Watch

You better be on board for the 2006 Slaton Heisman watch or you might not have a clue who the best player in the nation is. This guy is tearing teams up and could be poised for a huge year if teams can compete enough to keep him in the game. However, it appears that he got the last laugh on everyone.

Amazingly, this suits him just fine. The hype, the hoopla and the incessant plugs by experts of his worthiness as a Heisman Trophy candidate all seem to fit his frame as well as football pads.

Long before his ill-fated affair with Maryland was made public last week, West Virginia tailback Steve Slaton had lurked in the shadows of others, always good enough to play but never quite good enough in the eyes of others to receive top billing.

He was a star, but no one else outside of teammates or the people around him seemed to know it…and Slaton thrived in that role.

An all-timer in Philadelphia schoolboy grid annals going by numbers and ability, Slaton toiled away in virtual anonymity while playing for Conwell-Egan High—a program that struggled for the better part of 25 years before Slaton erupted for a school-record 290 yards and five touchdowns in his first varsity appearance midway through his freshman season, which served as a spark to four postseason runs.

He was a great player then but not considered in the same class as another kid in the same league—Curtis Brinkley of West Catholic.

Slaton had tremendous numbers but Brinkley had better ones. The latter also was a big-name recruit, having been wooed by all the top programs en route to earning Pennsylvania Player of the Year honors. The former, meanwhile, accepted Maryland’s initial pitch, then—depending on who you believe— either Slaton or Maryland reneged.

Regardless, he was given the usual second-banana treatment. The Terrapins wanted him to play defensive back, but Slaton wanted to remain a running back.

So, he landed at West Virginia, only to find the nation’s No. 3 running back prospect, Jason Gwaltney, already there. Gwaltney was bigger (6-0, 234 to 5-10, 190), supposedly as fast (Slaton runs a 4.37-second 40-yard dash) and had the rep.

Again, the back seat was all Slaton’s.

Fast forward to today, though, and Slaton is one of the darlings of college football. Having earned the starting job for the Mountaineers midway through last season, he finished the year with 1,128 yards rushing and 19 touchdowns. So far this season, he has accounted for 503 yards and six scores on the ground while leading WVU to a 3-0 start and for the first time, basking in the glow of the spotlight.

Slaton’s rise to prominence and his ability to flourish there are quite amazing.

As for those wondering what happened to the other “characters” in this tale, well, Brinkley is the main ball carrier at Syracuse but has not had the impact that Slaton is having. Gwaltney left WVU only to decide that he wanted to return in the future—as a linebacker.

We all know what Slaton did to Maryland last week. The Terrapins lost, 45-24, to the Mountaineers while managing to gain 134 yards on the ground—exactly 13 less than Slaton had in the first quarter.

2006 PennSt OhioSt

One of the biggest games of the weekend is Penn State v. Ohio State and we have all the angles covered for you. Of course if you want additional college football picks then you will have to visit the experts listed on this site.

Since the beginning of the campaign there’s been revenge on the Buckeyes’ minds with September matchups against Texas and Penn State and it’s one down, one to go.

Two weeks after winning a No. 1 vs. No. 2 showdown in Austin, the top-ranked Buckeyes (3-0 SU & ATS) look to win the matchup of last year’s Big Ten co-champions as they open conference play against No. 24 Penn State on Saturday at Ohio Stadium.

Ohio Stadium is the only Big Ten venue where Penn State (2-1 SU & 1-1 ATS) has not won since joining the conference in 1993. The Nittany Lions are 0-6 SU in Columbus since winning there 30 years ago. To make matters worse for Penn State investors the Buckeyes are 7-0 ATS in their last 7 home games.

That skid also includes the last time Penn State played the nation’s No. 1 team, losing 28-9 at Ohio Stadium in 1998. The Buckeyes are looking to even the all-time series at 11 wins apiece. The home team is 8-0 ATS in their last 8 meetings and the Nittany Lions are 0-5 ATS in their last 5 meetings in Columbus, Ohio.

Paterno’s team likely must be at its best to win on the road against the Buckeyes, who have averaged 426.7 yards per game and have been tough to stop against the pass and the run.

While Pittman has rushed for 340 yards and 6.7 per carry, Troy Smith has hooked up with Ginn and Gonzalez a combined 31 times for 533 yards and seven touchdowns. Smith, one of Ohio State’s eight returning starters on offense, has completed 69.1 percent of his passes for an average of 256.3 yards per game.

Penn State’s defense already had a tough time with one Heisman-hopeful quarterback this season, allowing Notre Dame’s Brady Quinn to complete 25 of 36 passes for 287 yards with three touchdowns. In their only game against a potent offense this year, the Nittany Lions failed to force a turnover while allowing the Irish to total 397 yards.

The duo of Anthony Morelli and Tony Hunt will try to find holes in an Ohio State defense which has surrendered only 26 points this season. Hunt, a 1,000-yard rusher last season, is coming off his best performance of the year with 143 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries against Youngstown State. He was held to 110 rushing yards through the first two games.

Morelli played poorly last week as he went 11-of-27 for 154 yards. He failed to throw a touchdown pass for the first time in three games. The junior faces a Buckeyes team which had eight sacks, including three by defensive tackle Quinn Pitcock, and three interceptions last week.

If the Buckeyes can showcase another defensive beauty, the Nittany Lions will have absolutely no chance at a SU win and little chance at a cover.

Notable Game Trends:

- Buckeyes are 7-0 ATS vs. a team with a winning record.

- Buckeyes are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games as a home favorite of 10.5+.

- Buckeyes are 6-0 ATS in their last 6 conference games.

- Buckeyes are 20-8 ATS in their last 28 games overall.

- Nittany Lions are 2-6 ATS in their last 8 games as a road underdog of 10.5+.

- Nittany Lions are 7-0 ATS in their last 7 conference games.

- Nittany Lions are 2-6 ATS in their last 8 games as a road underdog.

- Nittany Lions are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 games overall.

- Road team is 0-8 ATS in their last 8 meetings.

- Under is 3-0 in Buckeyes last 3 games following a SU win.

- Under is 5-0 in Buckeyes last 5 games as a home favorite.

- Over is 3-0 in Nittany Lions last 3 games overall.

- Over is 5-2 in Nittany Lions last 7 vs. a team with a winning record.

Prediction - Ohio State 31 Penn State 13

2006 Pac 10 Football Predictions

Get ready for the upcoming season with these 2006 Pac 10 football predictions from a winning sports handicapper. Alex Smart of Vegas Experts is ready for another successful season on the college gridiron, and if you want to join him then head on over and pick up a package today.
ARIZONA
Mike Stoops has 17 returning starters in camp from last year’s program. Many pundits believe that the Cats are going bowling in 2006. QB sensation Willie Tuitama, who threw for 1,105 yards including nine TDs in limited action, returns in 2006. In spite of Tuitama’s great efforts, he is still a “wait-and-see” on my rating chart, as is Arizona’s expected upward momentum.

ARIZONA STATE
One thing is certain in Tempe, scoring points should not be an issue during Arizona State’s 2006 campaign. ASU finished second in the nation in total offense last year. QB Sam Keller threw for 2,165 yards and 20 touchdowns in only six games before his season-ending thumb injury last year. His replacement, Rudy Carpenter, closed the year out with a QB rating of 175.0 (the highest in the nation) and a 4-1 record. Look for WR Terry Richardson to have a phenomenal year behind whichever arm takes the field for the Sun Devils. ASU’s defense still has a lot of question marks because of departures and injuries, but overall this team is dangerous.

CALIFORNIA
Jeff Tedford’s Bears finished the 2005 season with a 4-4 conference record and were 8-4 overall. Despite average numbers last year, the team has the make-up of a contender in 2006. Nearly every member of the 2005 offense returns including three capable QBs. Nate Longshore, whose season ended during the first game last year due to injury, interception-prone Joe Ayoob, and Steve Levy will all compete for the signal calling duties. The team also can depend on the legs of under-rated RB Marshawn Lynch. New OC Mike Dunbar, formerly of Northwestern, will make this talented group even better. The defense is also looking strong returning 13 of the top 16 tacklers, including sack leader DT Brandon Mebane. The Bears are poised to make a serious run at a Pac-10 title in 2006.

OREGON
Oregon finished last season with a 10-2 record. This was a vast improvement from the 5-6 mark in 2004. To expect the same positive results this year would be optimistic. The loss of the Ducks’ top QB Kellen Clemens and a pair of RBs, including under-rated Terrence Whitehead, have the program looking fragile on offense. After being snubbed for a BCS bowl appearance last season, HC Riley will be primed to prove his critics wrong. With the unstable personnel situation and a difficult road schedule this season, the Ducks will have an uphill battle finishing above .500 on the season.

OREGON STATE
The Beavers season was ruined last year as a 3-6 finish ended their dreams of a fourth consecutive bowl appearance. Their poor finish was largely a result of a QB rotation that was intercepted on a consistent basis and a defense that was porous at best. Returning are all five offensive linemen that started last season. The QB position is still up in the air as Matt Moore battles Ryan Gunderson for the starting role. On defense, all four defensive backs return, which may help shore up a defense that allowed nearly 100 yards more than the year prior. Needless to say, a repeat performance of the 2005 campaign is not out of the question.

SOUTHERN CAL
After Texas foiled USC’s bid for a third consecutive win in the BCS title game, what’s in store this year for Pete Carroll and his Trojans? Gone are Heisman Trophy winners Matt Linehart and Reggie Bush as well as other key members of last year’s team. Injuries, eligibility problems and off-season shenanigans have left some gaping holes that may not be easily filled. The upside of this well-recruited and well-coached program is that 56 lettermen do return. I never doubt Pete Carroll’s teams, especially after watching them accumulate 45 wins during the last four seasons.

STANFORD
The Cardinal enter this season having to deal with the embarrassment of last year’s losing home debacle against Division 1-AA Cal Davis. There was some good news, as the team won three conference road games. The Cardinal are also not certain about who will be the starting quarterback this year as Trent Edwards is still not 100 percent after suffering a shoulder injury last season. His backup TC Ostrander is capable but untested. HC Walt Harris’ West Coast offense has been ineffective in the Pac-10, as is evident by his system ranking 101st in offense in 2005. Note: 10 starters are back on offense including the entire front line. Will that experience make a difference? I personally do not think so.

UCLA
The Bruins started last season on a perfect 8-0 run before finishing with a 10-2 record. It’s nothing new for UCLA to get off to a fast start and then finish in ugly fashion. Since 2000, UCLA has gone just 8-18 SU and ATS from November to season’s end. This also includes a 0-10 SU record against opponents with a .666 or greater win percentage. I expect them to start quickly again this season because of a weak September schedule. But do not be surprised when they go into a funk as the season progresses.

WASHINGTON
What has happened to this program since 2003? Prior to that year, Washington had gone bowling eight consecutive times. Over the last two seasons, the Huskies have managed just three wins. This year Tyrone Willingham has 14 returning starters, including QB Saiah Stanback and their top two running backs Kenny James and Louis Rankin. Expect improvement, but that will not be too difficult as there is nowhere to go but up.

WASHINGTON STATE
Like their in-state rival, the Cougars have had two consecutive losing seasons. The offense was productive last year but the defense was horrendous. Head Coach Bill Doba who lost his wife recently, may well have more hardship to deal with as he tries to right a ship that many feel looks a lot like the Titanic at the moment. The Cougars in the early conference games have looked helpless for a number of years, having gone 0-12 in their last 12 October games. There is something positive to look forward to, namely up-and-coming star running back and juco transfer Darrel Hutsona, who was over-shadowed by former teammate Reggie Bush in high school. I like the way this underrated team looks and I feel they are capable of pulling off a key upset or two this season.

2006 NotreDame MichiganSt

If you are going to watch Notre Dame v. Michigan State this weekend you might consider reading this article. If you are going to bet on the game then use this advice to help you decide who is going to win, but if you want additional football picks then visit the handicappers listed on this site.

Since the beginning of the campaign there’s been revenge on the Buckeyes’ minds with September matchups against Texas and Penn State and it’s one down, one to go.

Two weeks after winning a No. 1 vs. No. 2 showdown in Austin, the top-ranked Buckeyes (3-0 SU & ATS) look to win the matchup of last year’s Big Ten co-champions as they open conference play against No. 24 Penn State on Saturday at Ohio Stadium.

Ohio Stadium is the only Big Ten venue where Penn State (2-1 SU & 1-1 ATS) has not won since joining the conference in 1993. The Nittany Lions are 0-6 SU in Columbus since winning there 30 years ago. To make matters worse for Penn State investors the Buckeyes are 7-0 ATS in their last 7 home games.

That skid also includes the last time Penn State played the nation’s No. 1 team, losing 28-9 at Ohio Stadium in 1998. The Buckeyes are looking to even the all-time series at 11 wins apiece. The home team is 8-0 ATS in their last 8 meetings and the Nittany Lions are 0-5 ATS in their last 5 meetings in Columbus, Ohio.

Paterno’s team likely must be at its best to win on the road against the Buckeyes, who have averaged 426.7 yards per game and have been tough to stop against the pass and the run.

While Pittman has rushed for 340 yards and 6.7 per carry, Troy Smith has hooked up with Ginn and Gonzalez a combined 31 times for 533 yards and seven touchdowns. Smith, one of Ohio State’s eight returning starters on offense, has completed 69.1 percent of his passes for an average of 256.3 yards per game.

Penn State’s defense already had a tough time with one Heisman-hopeful quarterback this season, allowing Notre Dame’s Brady Quinn to complete 25 of 36 passes for 287 yards with three touchdowns. In their only game against a potent offense this year, the Nittany Lions failed to force a turnover while allowing the Irish to total 397 yards.

The duo of Anthony Morelli and Tony Hunt will try to find holes in an Ohio State defense which has surrendered only 26 points this season. Hunt, a 1,000-yard rusher last season, is coming off his best performance of the year with 143 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries against Youngstown State. He was held to 110 rushing yards through the first two games.

Morelli played poorly last week as he went 11-of-27 for 154 yards. He failed to throw a touchdown pass for the first time in three games. The junior faces a Buckeyes team which had eight sacks, including three by defensive tackle Quinn Pitcock, and three interceptions last week.

If the Buckeyes can showcase another defensive beauty, the Nittany Lions will have absolutely no chance at a SU win and little chance at a cover.

Notable Game Trends:

- Buckeyes are 7-0 ATS vs. a team with a winning record.

- Buckeyes are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games as a home favorite of 10.5+.

- Buckeyes are 6-0 ATS in their last 6 conference games.

- Buckeyes are 20-8 ATS in their last 28 games overall.

- Nittany Lions are 2-6 ATS in their last 8 games as a road underdog of 10.5+.

- Nittany Lions are 7-0 ATS in their last 7 conference games.

- Nittany Lions are 2-6 ATS in their last 8 games as a road underdog.

- Nittany Lions are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 games overall.

- Road team is 0-8 ATS in their last 8 meetings.

- Under is 3-0 in Buckeyes last 3 games following a SU win.

- Under is 5-0 in Buckeyes last 5 games as a home favorite.

- Over is 3-0 in Nittany Lions last 3 games overall.

- Over is 5-2 in Nittany Lions last 7 vs. a team with a winning record.

Prediction - Ohio State 31 Penn State 13

2006 Irish Not Smiling

It was a rough week for Notre Dame fans that left the Irish not smiling heading into a touch matchup against Michigan State. This is just one of the topics brought up in this article by the guys at Nine. If you are looking for a quality sportsbook with a nice signup bonus, visit Nine today.

Brady Quinn can kiss that Heisman Trophy goodbye.

The Notre Dame quarterback, should he remain healthy—and that could be a question mark considering how the Irish offensive line has protected him this season—has at least nine games remaining in his collegiate career, so he will have opportunities to strut his stuff against quality competition—

Michigan State, UCLA and Southern Cal—and he will do so before a national-television audience.

However, that display against Michigan last Saturday was so awful, so revealing—not just of Quinn, but of how mediocre Notre Dame can be, especially on defense—that the Irish quarterback no longer is a legit contender for college football’s highest individual honor.

Let’s face it. The senior didn’t exactly light the world afire in the 2006 opener, struggling mightily to direct the Irish by ACC middling Georgia Tech. He also had some erratic issues in the Week 2 blowout of Penn State.

The Wolverines’ 47-21 waffling of Notre Dame, coupled with Quinn’s four turnovers, should prove to be the death knell to the quarterback adding the game’s best-known hardware to his school’s trophy case.

Quick-hitting trivia question—Who are the seven Heisman Trophy winners from Notre Dame? Hint—None of them were named Rocket Ismail, or even Raghib Ismail.

Quick-hitting trivia question answer—Angelo Bertelli, John Lujack, John Lattner, Leon Hart, John Huarte, Tim Brown and Paul Hornung.

The final name there should give Quinn some hope in this year’s race. Hornung played on a losing team and still won.

The difference now is that the Irish are not the sole national program anymore. People across the country know just as much, if not more, about Southern Cal, Miami and Ohio State, which has its own Heisman contender, Troy Smith, in the mix this season…and he, unlike Quinn, has played well.

Plus, it might be hard for ND backers to rationalize Quinn’s candidacy after he steps on the field this week against a better player at the same position — Michigan State’s Drew Stanton.

# Kudos to… Clemson, which won at Florida State for the first time in 17 years.
# Syracuse, which snapped an 11-game losing streak, with a 31-21 victory at Illinois.
# Texas Christian, which beat Texas Tech, 12-3, to gain a measure of revenge against the Red Raiders for a 70-35 loss at Lubbock, Texas, two years ago.
# Florida coach Urban Meyer, who had the gumption to win in his first trip to Tennessee while relying on freshman quarterback Tim Tebow for crucial runs.

Did you notice…
# Clemson prevailed in the final minute at Tallahassee thanks to a fumble call being overturned by replay…a week after the Tigers lost courtesy of replay changing an interception into a last-minute catch for Boston College?
# No. 3 Auburn got beat up by sixth-ranked Louisiana State but still won, 7-3, at Jordan-Hare Stadium?

Keep an eye on…
# Stanton, Smith and West Virginia tailback Steve Slaton are obvious Heisman contenders, but the most valuable player in the game right now might be South Florida redshirt freshman Matt Grothe. In his first three games at the helm, Grothe has thrown for 647 yards and six TDs and run for 213 yards and a score.
# As a result, the Bulls are 3-0, but then again, they’ve only faced McNeese State, Florida International and Central Florida.

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